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I'm looking to renew/replace the rotted timber used to construct a compost heap and would appreciate guidance. My main aim is longevity with minimal maintenance but cost is a consideration too. I currently have a two compartment, side-by-side construction consisting of six concrete posts set...

Would appreciate advice on this... My existing DT92E has broken and I need a replacement. I contacted Honeywell/Resideo to ask what my replacement options were and was informed that two wireless room thermostats fitted the bill for my particular setup: a like-for-like DT92E or the newer DT4R...

I've used built-in electric ovens for decades and oven bulbs invariably blow long before their stated average lifespan, despite always having the lens cover fitted correctly, keeping oven and lens clean and limiting oven temperature to 220C max. I've never got 300 hours out of an oven bulb yet...

Thanks.

Outdoor LED floodlights have been around a good few years now and I was wondering if my experience is typical... How are your LED security floodlights holding up? I'd like to know because mine aren't doing so well. I originally started fitting LED lamps as security lights on the outer walls of...

A 100mm Newlec extractor fan, with timer, was fitted into my (plasterboard) cloakroom ceiling about 7 years ago and despite light use, it's recently packed up. I've never been impressed with this device so I'm looking for a higher quality replacement that has a chance of lasting 10+ years. I...

I have a twist & lock 22mm Speedfit-type connector (though I think it's a generic brand) on the central heating system and it has sprung a small leak so wish to replace it with similar. I would grateful for comments on my plans to carry out the replacement. The gas central heating system is...

Would appreciate views on this strange problem I'm having with a Honeywell wireless room thermostat (DT92E) that was fitted to my central heating system five years ago. Three or four times over the past five years the Honeywell DT92E appeared to change room temperature setpoint (increased by 1...

Would appreciate guidance/advice on suitable amp rating for a cable I wish to use to wire an external PIR and an associated 20W LED light. Normally, I wouldn't need to ask such a simple question but I'm a bit unsure about my house wiring and think it may affect the current rating of wiring I...

Would appreciate advice on choice of suitable primer... I painted a Crittalls window (i.e. zinc galvanised steel) last year using this Rustins water-based paint as a primer: https://www.rustins.ltd/rustins/our-products/speciality-paints/quick-dry-galvanised-metal-primer But I didn't like the...

I have several G9 halogen bulbs used with a conventional dimmer switch and would like to replace the bulbs with their LED equivalents. I'm aware that conventional filament bulb dimmers are different to LED bulb dimmers and, ideally, I should replace the conventional dimmer switch if I wish to...

Would appreciate a heads-up on replacing a blown door bell/chime transformer. The transformer, a very old Friedland "Surepunch" model sited in the loft space, went open circuit (though not before blowing a fuse in my old distribution box) and smells burnt. Because of the worrying burning smell...

I have a raised garden vegetable bed fitted with an electrical slug & snail deterrent. This deterrent consists of two bare conductors spaced about 1cm apart that run around the bed's perimeter (around the outside, a few cm's down from the top edge). Currently, I power it with a 9V battery...

Would appreciate opinions and recommendations please... I need to staple several metres of 2mm s/s wire 'rope' onto recycled plastic joists. It's for outdoor use and open to the elements. What combination of staple gun and staples would you recommend. I've used standard 26/6 office-type steel...

OK, not exactly a disaster but it's weird... I clean my wash basin and bath drains by periodically blasting mains pressure water (via a hose) down the plugholes. Very quick, no chemicals and it does a great job. Done it a good few times and if careful, doesn't spray water around the bathroom...

I have a pond aerator pump that plugs into mains electricity. In normal use, it draws 4 Watts, evidently. It wasn't supplied with a mains plug so I fitted one and installed the lowest rated mains fuse I had - 2 Amps. However, the instruction manual states: "should be fused for a rated fault...

Possibly a simple answer to this question but I'd appreciate guidance. I want to hang two roller blinds inside a sliding door recess where one blind sits above the sliding panel and the second blind above the fixed panel. Not all roller blinds have brackets for side wall fixing and besides, the...

My bungalow was extended just over 3 years ago and some fine cracks appeared on walls (plaster-on-aerated block) and ceilings (skimmed plasterboard) after 6 months to a year. No new cracks have appeared since although one or two may have grown longer and opened up a touch more but no crack is...

What's the worse that can happen? Distant elderly relatives need to replace some old 60W tungsten filament bulbs. Problem is, the lighting circuit has an old dimmer switch and I've read that even dimmable LEDs don't work properly (or at all?) with old-style dimmer switches. The possible...

Would appreciate any ideas/guidance on the following issue... I started using a new Bosch Serie 4 dishwasher (SMS461W00G) in January 2019. It worked perfectly well for about the first year - I was impressed - but then performance started to drop-off such that, typically, tea mugs are frequently...